Multiple altitude satellite relay system and method
First Claim
1. A multiple altitude satellite system which is capable of maintaining continuous, unbroken links between satellites disposed at different altitudes, comprising:
- a first satellite orbiting at one of a low and medium-earth-orbit altitude; and
at least one second satellite orbiting at a high orbit altitude, said high orbit being synchronized with the orbit of said first satellite to maintain a continuous line-of-sight between said first and second satellites.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple altitude satellite relay system is disclosed in which Medium Earth Orbit satellites are continuously linked with at least one geosynchronous satellite to provide uninterrupted relaying of messages and data. The Medium Earth Orbit satellites are synchronized with the geosynchronous satellites to produce continuous links. A parameter to achieve the synchronization involves the positions of the Medium Earth Orbit satellite relays relative to the positions of the geosynchronous satellite relays. Another parameter to achieve synchronization involves the ratio between the orbital periods of the geosynchronous satellite relays relative to the orbital periods of the Medium Earth Orbit satellite relays. These parameters may be further adjusted to provide continuous links above the horizon of the earth. An additional satellite relay system is disclosed in which the high-orbit satellite need not be in geosynchronous orbit and in which a high-orbit satellite communicates over a continuous unbroken link with a low-orbit satellite. A further satellite relay system is disclosed in which more than two satellites are arranged at discrete orbit altitudes, again providing a continuous, unbroken daisy-chain link between satellites.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A multiple altitude satellite system which is capable of maintaining continuous, unbroken links between satellites disposed at different altitudes, comprising:
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a first satellite orbiting at one of a low and medium-earth-orbit altitude; and at least one second satellite orbiting at a high orbit altitude, said high orbit being synchronized with the orbit of said first satellite to maintain a continuous line-of-sight between said first and second satellites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing a multiple altitude satellite system which is capable of maintaining continuous, unbroken links between satellites disposed at different altitudes, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first satellite at one of a low and medium-earth-orbit altitude and a second satellite at an altitude higher than that of said first satellite; and synchronizing the orbit of said first satellite with an orbit of said second satellite to maintain a continuous line-of-sight between said first and second satellites. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A multiple altitude satellite system for maintaining continuous unbroken links between satellites disposed at different altitudes, comprising:
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a first satellite orbiting in one of a medium-earth-orbit altitude and a low-earth-orbit altitude; and at least one second satellite orbiting at an altitude higher than said first satellite, said second satellite being synchronized with the orbit of said first satellite to maintain a continuous line-of-sight between said first and second satellites. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A multiple altitude satellite system for maintaining continuous, unbroken links between satellites disposed at different altitudes, comprising:
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a first satellite orbiting at a high-earth-orbit altitude; a second satellite orbiting at an intermediate-earth-orbit altitude; and a third satellite orbiting at a low-earth-orbit altitude, said first, second, and third satellites being synchronized in orbit with respect to one another to maintain continuous lines of sight therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification